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(N o Model.) S. VANSTONE.

ELEGTRIGAL PUSH BUTTON. No. 341,293 Patented May 4, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL VANSTONE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE HANCOCK, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL PUSH-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,293, dated May 4, 1886.

Application filed October 15, 1885. Serial No.1'79,92S. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL VANSTONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Providence, and State 5 of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement inElectric Push-Buttons, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters 011 the drawings representing like parts. My invention has for its object to provide a new and improved push-button for electric circuits wherein the cost of the same is materially reduced and the construction simplified, to permit the cap to be more easily and quick- I 1y secured to or removed from its base.

Heretofore in electric push-buttons the wooden cap and base have been provided with screw-threads to enable the former to be socured to the latter. WVith such construction both cap and base were required to be turned out by hand from pieces or blocks of wood, with the grain of the wood running in the direction of the plane of the top surface of the base, so as to provide threads of sufficient 2 5 strength for thepurpose required, whereas in this my invention the cap and base may be turned out by machinery from the ends of pieces or blocks of wood with the grain of the wood running in a direction at right-angles to 0 the plane of the top surface of the base, by which means I am enabled to produce the parts with greater rapidity and cheapness than formerly. Furthermore, the spring resistance of the spring contact-pieces, which 5 press against the button when properly inclosed in the case, serves also to retain the cap and base in locked position.

lhe invention consists of the usual base provided with a central raised portion having 0 a curvilinear groove or grooves and opposite cutaway portions, and of a cap-piece combined with the base and adaped to fit thereon and provided with inwardly-projecting studs or pins, which are adapted to be passed over 4 5 the cut-away portions and be turned into the grooves to retain the cap in place on said base.

Figure l is a central section of a push-button embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the base; Fig. 3, an inverted plan of the cap; Fig. 4, a similar view of a modification of the cap, and Fig. 5 a sectional view of the push-button in modified form, to be referred to.

The base-piece a is provided with the usual central raised portion, I), having the contact points a (I, while 6 represents the usual cap, andf the button.

In carrying out my invention Icnt a curvilinear groove, g, in the wall of the raised portion 1), and then provide the cut away places h, to enable a pair of inwardly-projecting studs or pins, 70, which are driven into or otherwise secured in the cap-piece, to be passed over the cutaway places and turned into the grooves g, so as to lock or retain the cap to the base. W'hen thus secured the contact point or spring-plate c, in pressing the button into the socket in the cap-piece, serves to more firmly retain the pins in the grooves and thus provide a firmer connection; also, the cap may be more easily and quickly removed from the base than formerly.

If desired, I may use the plates at, (shown in Fig. 4,)instead of the pins, while, as shown in Fig. 5, the pins may be driven into the raised portion'of the base and the groove or grooves cut on the inner side of the cap to secure a reversal of parts, if desired.

Vhat I claim is- As a new article of manufacture, an electric pushbutton consisting of a base having a raised central portion which is provided with spring oontact-pieces and with a curvilinear groove out into the wall thereof, and cut-away places It on opposite sides of said raised portion, as specified, a cap having a pair of inwardly-projecting pins or studs arranged one opposite the other, and a button, combined and adapted to operate, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

